Page 35 of The Girl Out of Time
The town was small for Emmeline’s standards, but it would probably count as decently sized in this part of the country, and in this time. Several inns and taverns, a postal office, and multiple shops all huddled along a muddy road. The uniform gray, beige, and white houses, with shingled and thatched roofs and flowering bushes and ivy-sprinkled facades, gave the town a charming, fairytale-like feeling. A cluster of chickens fluttered over the road as the carriage rocked across the cobblestones. Emmeline breathed in the buttery sweet smell of bread and pastries wafting from the baker’s, mingling with a fresh morning breeze.
It was the complete opposite of New York City. A dream refuge from the future that awaited her—one she’d cling to for as long as she could.
Louisa dragged her from shop to shop. Undergarments, dresses, hats, and other accessories—in her excitement, Louisa didn’t seem to mind that her family would be paying for it, so Emmeline let herself get carried away, too. Besides, it would be a drop in the ocean for the duke.
“The ribbons perfectly match your eyes,” Louisa said as Emmeline tried on a bonnet with trimming in a forget-me-not blue. “We must get this one for you, Maria—may I call you Maria?”
Emmeline’s first instinct was to say,“I guess it’s as good a name as any,”until she realized itwasher name. Well, Miss Grey’s name. According toDebrett’s, Viscount Grey had three daughters, and until now, she wasn’t sure which one she was supposed to represent.
Luckily, it wasn’t Modesty.
After purchasing the hat, they exited onto the street and continued a stroll along the cobblestones.
“I can’t wait for my brother to come back,” Louisa said, shaking Emmeline out of her daydreaming about what a wonderful relief from her life this village was. Not a finishing school in sight.
Emmeline accidentally tightened her arm, looped around Louisa’s. “Is he?”
“What?”
“Coming back? Soon?”
“Oh, most likely not. He’s probably having too much fun with his friends in London, doing all the manly things.” Louisa rolled her eyes, but accompanied that with a smile. “Don’t worry. If he is intending to come here, we’ll receive his letter first.”
Emmeline wasn’t quite sure what she felt, regarding her fake fiancé—or rather, the real fiancé of her fake self—but the first thing, upon hearing Louisa’s reassurance, was relief. She was curious about him—would he be as sweet and kind and a tiny bit dramatic, like his sister?—but at this moment, she had too many other things to worry about.
“How about fans?” Louisa said. “You won’t need one right now, and surely you have some at home, but …” She wiggled her eyebrows expectantly.
Emmeline had never used a fan. But maybe she could try. It would be fun to learn some dramatic gestures with them. “Let’s do it.” The idea brought a smile back to her lips, but it faded as she glanced across the street.
Parked next to the inn was a black-lacquered carriage with an emblem of the letter G, set in a shield.
The carriage that had picked up her and Theo.
Emmeline spun Louisa around, so rapidly Louisa almost lost her footing. “I need to—uh—ladies’ business,” she squeezed out. “At the inn. Would you mind waiting for me at the shop?”
“All right.” Unconcerned, Louisa wandered off.
Emmeline waited until she was out of sight, then crossed the street and entered the inn. “Miss Grey?” she asked the innkeeper, who pointed her upward, confirming her fears.
She ascended slowly, wringing her hands. She didn’t know what she’d do yet, but she had to dosomething.If the real Maria Grey was here, she could turn up at the estate at any moment, and the jig would be up. And if her cover fell, so would Theo’s. What would they do to a spy—execute him?
She knocked on the door; after a short “Yes” from the inside, it opened, revealing a young woman with an oval face, dark eyes, and immaculately styled dark brown hair, dressed in an emerald green traveling cloak. Judging by the healthy glow of her cheeks and her general disposition, she didn’t look sick at all.
“Miss Grey?” Emmeline asked.
“Yes, that’s me.” The woman tilted her head, inspecting her with curiosity.
“I was sent from Lennemere. May we talk?”
The woman glanced over her shoulder. “If we must.” She cleared her throat over a slight uneasiness in her voice, but let Emmeline in.
Emmeline had half-expected her to be hiding a lover behind the door or under the bed, but the room was empty, and neatly made, too—including Miss Grey’s suitcase, ready and packed on the bed.
She was about to come to the estate.
“I’m afraid I’m still feeling unwell, as my driver must’ve told you,” Miss Grey said. “I cannot visit for at least a few days more.”
“Really? That’s great—I mean, it’s not great that you’re sick. I wanted to say, there’s been a disease outbreak on the estate, as well—not that it’s your fault, just an awful coincidence”—like the “coincidence” inThree Times a Widow, huh?—No, concentrate!—“so it would not be safe at all for you to visit, especially in your weakened condition.”
